Preventing and Treating Gum Disease

Dentists refer to gum conditions as the silent disease because it is easy to ignore its symptoms, especially in the early stages. The sad part about it is that it compromises the health of the gums and the bone surrounding teeth, and eventually results in tooth loss.

This is due to dental plaque, which is the sticky film of bacteria that attaches to the tooth surface and below the gum line. Research suggests that about half of the population has gum disease in different stages, with about 10% suffering from its most serious stage.

Private dentists in St. Albans such as cuffleyvillagedental.co.uk note that poor dental hygiene makes the disease worse, as well as smoking, stress, and having diabetes.

Can You Prevent it?

Fortunately, you can prevent gum disease with proper oral hygiene, as well as visiting the dentist for professional cleaning and removal of plaque and tartar. A healthy lifestyle, which involves a balanced diet, regular exercise, and avoiding smoking or tobacco use, is also beneficial in preventing gum disease.

If you have diabetes, you can lower risk of getting it by maintaining your blood sugar at healthy levels. It is also important to know there are some symptoms of gum disease you overlook, especially if you smoke. Visiting the dentist for check-ups helps.

Can You Treat Gum Disease?

Treatment for gum disease usually involves management techniques for daily plaque removal. Apart from good oral hygiene and dental cleanings, quitting smoking, and adopting a healthy lifestyle are also part of the treatment. Note that the treatment may not work if you continue to smoke.

Successful treatment of periodontal disease leads to clean teeth and healthy gums that do not bleed or look swollen. This also results in a fresh breath, pale pink gums, and tartar-free teeth. Continuing with good dental habits can help you maintain your teeth longer.

If you, however, have receding gums, you will need scaling and root planning to treat the recession.

The disease is not usually painful, so it is likely that you do not know that you have it. It is best to improve your oral hygiene and keep up with regular dental visits to protect your teeth and gum health.

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